Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-18
Democracy Versus the Side Issues.
FLAT CREEK, Iron Co., Mo.

L SAAo"y W q COott tAAOASCs - AoAs
one side of the roof the water pours of
in the direction of the Atlantic; from
the other it pours in the direction OF
the Pacific. A little raindrop falling
directly toward the comb of the roof
may be picked up by an eastern breeze
and started ON its course toward the
west, winding its way from gully to
branch, and to river, until it reaches
the Ohio; then into the "Father of
| Waters" to the Gulf of Mexico. Like
wise western breeze may pick it up
and carry il down the Eastern Slope
| into the Potomac and then on to the
Chesapeake Bay. In like manner
there are political schemers at work
making preparation to build court
house Gas 1t were) of side issues, with
one wing plunging the Democratic
party down the river of defeat. and
with the other leading the Republicans
to victory. Every Democrat, who is a
Democrat in the true sense, should
open his eyes and behold what is before
him. If our Democratic party starts
to fall upon the minute pinnacles, hav-
ing Prohibition and La Dor as its pillars,
it is more than probable that a little
breeze of Republicanism would spring
up; just enough to wait US from our
course and cause our defeat (probabIy
for another twenty-four years.. We
must avoid all tempta tions and allure
ments of these acoutd be political par
ties and stick together, so when we
come down in 1888 we will fall directly
on the right side and float off on the
wane of success regardless of Republi-
canism, which would glory in our
downfall. There is strong organiza-
ton in Tennessee called the Wheelers.
They are spreading over Kentucky and
getting into Southeast Missouri. It is
not my intention now to condemn this
fraternity of farmers as long as it stays
within it's own sphere. but we must
keep an eye on them lest they might
want to become active in politics and
form side issue. Should they attempt
to do this, they must be politically ex.
terminated, as the Democracy cannot
indorse anything but the broad plat
form upon which it stands. In the
State of New York, which is 80 uncer-
tain, there have sprung up the Labor
Question and Land Question, also Pro-
hihition to a certain extent. Now we
must realize the fact that we have no
need of the third party, and our organ.
ization, known as the Democratic party,
must hold itself aloof and fight for it's
just and honest principles. If we do
this we will continue on our upward
and onward course, but if we allow
we will fall. Remember last Novem-
Der how near speaker Carlisle came to
defeat. All on account of the third
(labor) party together with a few Pro-
hlbitionists.
Now, Mr.. Editor, don't understand
me to say that, because a man advo-
Gates the Knights OF Labor, we must
let him go. That is not it. But if he
advocates making E. new political party
of his org imitation and tears down our
ranks to build up his-then I say we
must put our feet upon him. For the |
laboring classes to organize and lay |
their strong hand upon the throat of
monopoly provided they keep out of
is probably a very good thing.
We don't exclude the laborer because |
he is such. The Democratic party ex-
tends to him just as hearty welcome
as it does to the capitalist.
There is also another issue-Prohibi-
fact that this is a political organization.
Maine, Iowa and Kansas have already |
adopted the prohibatory amendment. |
1t was defeated only few months |
since in one of the northern states. and |
last Thursday Texas came to the front
and defeated the amendment. Tennes-
see will submit September next, Ore
gon November next and West Virginia |
i'll 1883. Now sir, from the foregoing
we can plainly see that our Prohibition
brethren are actively engaged in their
work. If we ascertain the facts we
will undoubtedly find that nearly all
the leading Prohibitionists are broken
do o~n politicians from one party or the
other. When a man spends his prime
with US and is elected to office by DEM
ocratic votes, and then dies the pnlit-
ical death, we expect hifn to remain in
the party and support those who have
once supported him. A man who is a
Democrat will do this. They not only
ignore the fact that when our sires
achieved their independence during
the dark and bloody days of revolu-
times, they constructed a gov.
Of individual liberty for the
protection of natural rights, but they
even violate the principles of Democ-
racy by wanting to establish a sumpt-
uary law. In Texas the contest was
very close and bitter. Many Demo-
Gratis went wild, and the Republicans
are taking advantage of this only for
the purpose OF crippling the Democracy
In the south. They are working this
everywhere. Even in our own state,
the people are considerably
agitated over this question. While
our state is safely Democratic, we must
not risk diminishing our majority by
the Prohibitionists as q